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Canada>Ontario>EGL Winter Backcountry 2013-2014

Photo courtesy of [o]TTer

EGL Winter Backcountry 2013-2014

When there's snow on the ground and the temperature's well below freezing most sensible people simply turn up their furnaces or catch a flight to warmer climes. A few intrepid souls (or "crazy people" depending on who you're talking to) take it as a queue to bundle up with scarves and hats, load up a sled, strap on some skies or snowshoes and head out to find a remote stretch of forest to camp for a few nights of what they consider "fun". Some even go so far as to encase themselves in a feather cocoon and dangle themsleves between two trees. Madness.... Sheer madness...

Let the madness begin...

When: One weekend in February 2014. TBD. I'm personally leaning towards Feb 22/23 with the possibility of an extra day or two on one end or another, say Feb 20-23.

I am so in. Actually planning to spend most of the week preceding wandering the woods. Finish it off with you folks! Been looking at the dog sled trail that starts at Sunday Lake (Algonquin) parking close and a semi prepared trail.

I am good with any date in February and any location as long as I know a month or so ahead to plan my week wander around your location.

February 20-23 works for me. I get back from Costa Rica on the 15th. A frozen trip to the woods should finish off what's left of my tan. Frontenac isn't a good choice because you have to camp on designated sites and they only allow 2 shelters per site. For hammocks you're supposed to be as close to the tent pad as you can (straddling it if possible). Also, most of the sites are lakeside and wind-exposed. Algonquin should be a sure bet for snow and cold temps.

My new Wiggy's 0F bag gets here this week. It will be the basis of a peapod system for winter (along with under/overquilts). I was out last weekend with the new canvas Hammock sock at Frontenac and it worked very well at a windy -12c. No frost at all in the morning. I got some pack boots on Black Friday. Now I'm just waiting for snowshoe season to start.

I've been gathering appropriate gear and hope to go but will have to wait until closer to see how it works out. The family day weekend would make it easier but I'll still be a maybe if it's the week after.

I've been gathering appropriate gear and hope to go but will have to wait until closer to see how it works out. The family day weekend would make it easier but I'll still be a maybe if it's the week after.

For all of the pragmatic romantics out there, I thought it would be prudent to attempt to curry some brownie points and log some mandatory sweetheart time over the valentine's day/family-day weekend in order to get their ever-so-understanding go-ahead for an extra long weekend of backcountry winter camping. Queue whipping sound effect.

Still, I hope you can make it.

Last edited by Chard; 12-13-2013 at 11:35.

Survival is about getting out alive, Bushcraft is about going in to live - Chard (aka Forest-Hobo)

Between this, 2 underquilts and a 40degree top quilt to use inside the pod, with the whole thing in a winter sock, I should be able to handle just about anything (except carrying it all of course). First test this weekend.